Diana Barkelew became the vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer for Northwest Christian University in 2006 after working for 17 years in finance positions at the state and higher education levels.
Barkelew graduated from the University of Oregon in 1999 and began working as the secretary of the State Audits Division. She left in 2002 as the audit supervisor to begin work in the Oregon University System as a senior auditor. In 2004, she was hired by Oregon State University as the associate director of business affairs for accounting and reporting.
Diana is actively involved at Springfield Lutheran Church and has served on the Church's Board of Directors since 1997, including time as the financial secretary and president. She has also twice served as a representative at the ELCA Oregon Synod Assembly and has acted, on occasion, as a lay pastor when the church pastor is absent. She also leads a middle and high school group Bible study on Sunday mornings.
Barkelew is active in the community leading fundraisers for her church and Operation Starfish, which helped a homeless family in Springfield locate a new home. Her passion is service that involves mentoring youth, homlessness in Lane County, and hunger throughout the world.
She loves watching football, gardening, and spending time at the beach. She is married to Billy Barkelew and has two sons, Jon Samuelson and William Samuelson.
